The narrow way of obedience
“If you love me, obey my commandments.” — John 14:15
‘The highest freedom is found in obedience to God.’ — Thomas Merton
It’s safe to say that ‘obedience’ isn’t trending right now.
In fact, in our hyper-individualistic culture, it’s widely viewed with suspicion. Many would go as far as viewing obedience as oppressive, a removal of our rights as autonomous beings.
In this context, Jesus’ call to obey him is radical.
Many people might see this call to obedience as domineering—that Jesus wants nothing more than to dominate us and punish us when we step out of line.
But that’s not what the Bible tells us.
When we let God teach us through His Word, we discover that disobedience to Jesus only ever leads to death, and that obedience to Him only ever leads to the full, lasting life that we were made for and long to live.
Here’s how:
Obedience is love
“If you love me, obey my commandments.” — John 14:15
Notice the words that Jesus uses here: He doesn’t say, “If you trust me” or “If you honour me”, or even “If you believe in me”, although all those would still be applicable and true.
He says, “If you love me”.
Obeying Jesus is something that flows from our hearts. As His disciples, we should want and eagerly desire to obey Him, because we love Him.
Love is crucial to obedience, because to love someone means to trust them. So, when we obey Jesus, it means that we trust Him. We have confidence that He is who He says He is, that He loves us, and that He only ever wants to lead us into a life of flourishing in His Kingdom.
We obey Jesus, because we love Him—we trust Him and we want to glorify Him with our whole lives.
Obedience is dependence
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” — John 14:16
Obey Jesus.
It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? In the words of Nike’s slogan, we need to “just do it”.
But we all know that the reality of “just doing it” is actually really hard. It’s not about simply trying harder or mustering up more willpower, because that will always fail. We are still sinful, and we need help to obey Jesus.
That’s why He promises His disciples that the Father will send the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit leads us along the way of Jesus, grounds us in the truth of Jesus, and fills us with the life of Jesus.
Paul describes our reliance on the Spirit as ‘walking in step with the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:25). That gives us a beautiful image of what being Jesus’ disciple is like: as we follow after Him, we are accompanied, directed, strengthened and comforted by the Spirit walking alongside us.
Obedience is freedom
‘And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.’ — 1 John 5:3–4
Jesus’ commands are not burdensome. They are not meant to crush us into submission, but to free us into life. Jesus says that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10)
So often, people think it’s the opposite—that Jesus has come to steal our fun, kill our joy and even destroy our lives. But that’s a lie from the enemy, straight out of Genesis 3 when he first tempted Eve to distrust God’s goodness.
Jesus only ever wants to lead us into the fullest life in His Kingdom, where, as Paul describes in Romans 14:27, we experience ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’
Obeying God is so freeing. It frees us from sin, and it frees us to live a life full of eternal purpose, hope and joy! It frees us from constantly worrying about ourselves and our lives, and it frees us to have complete confidence in who we are in Jesus.
It’s a narrow path, but it’s the only one that leads to life.
I’m committed to walking with you along it.
Love,
Theo
